Respiratory failure & ventilation
Does obesity impact on weaning from invasive ventilation: a secondary analysis of the WEAN SAFE study
Authors' conclusion
Patients with obesity had a more complex and longer weaning process, but obesity per se was not independently associated with adverse weaning outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients on invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) enrolled in the WEAN SAFE study
- Participants
- 1,728 / 1,395 / 590 / 431
- Comparison
- Body mass index (BMI) groups: overweight, obesity class I, obesity classes II and III vs normal weight
- Normal weightn = 1,728reference
- Overweightn = 1,395
- Obesity Class In = 590
- Obesity classes II and IIIn = 431
- Primary endpoint
- Rate of successful extubation in each BMI group
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Successful extubation (weaning success)
- Weaning success not different in obese patients
- No independent relationship between obesity and weaning success
Secondary outcomes
ICU and hospital mortality
- Not different in obese patients; no independent relationship between obesity and overall survival
Weaning process in obesity classes II-III
- Lower sedation, later first separation attempt, longer time to weaning success, more NIV post extubation, longer ICU stay
- No independent relationship between obesity and weaning delay
PEEP at weaning eligibility
- Higher PEEP associated with weaning failure in normal and overweight patients but not in patients with obesity
Original publication
Does obesity impact on weaning from invasive ventilation: a secondary analysis of the WEAN SAFE study. Ann Intensive Care. Published 21 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →